Course Description
Many of the greatest social problems (addiction, homelessness, etc.) are what are considered complex adaptive systems that have multiple causes. This course presents Systems Thinking as a collection of tools to help understand these complex problems and to be able to effectively intervene to bring social change. In this course, you will learn how to use system mapping, system archetypes, causal loop diagrams, ecosystem analysis, and other tools to better understand system dynamics to design effective interventions. This course will also explore how mental models and worldviews are foundational to all systems interventions. In this course, you will learn to conduct worldview analysis to compare your organization’s program model to alternative approaches to both improve your program and your ability to communicate with those from different worldviews. In the final project for this course, you will write a Systems Thinking Research Project & Strategy Plan for your organization, including a systems approach to organizational strategy, contextualization strategy, learning strategy, and change management strategy.
Course Objectives:
After completing this course, you will be able to:
- Create visual systems thinking diagrams, including system mapping, system archetypes, causal loop diagrams, ecosystem analysis, mental models and worldview analysis.
- Apply systems thinking tools to a major social problem, including system mapping, client experience mapping, power analysis, system dynamics, patterns, structures, processes, and how mental models and worldviews impact approaches to intervention.
- Apply worldview analysis to compare your organization’s program model to alternative approaches to both improve your program and your ability to communicate with those from different worldviews.
- Synthesize learning into a Systems Thinking Research Project & Strategy Plan for your organization including a systems approach to organizational strategy, contextualization strategy, learning strategy and change management strategy.
Note: Because of the approach to research in this program, this program requires that students subscribe to Google Gemini Pro for AI-assisted research projects.
Syllabus
Course Materials & Tuition
| Meadows, D. H. (2008). Thinking in Systems: International Bestseller (D. Wright, Ed.). Chelsea Green. ISBN: 978-1603580557 | $17.00 |
| Sire, J. W. (2015). Naming the Elephant: Worldview as a Concept. IVP Academic. ISBN: 978-0830840731 | $15.00 |
| Stroh, D. P. (2015). Systems Thinking For Social Change: A Practical Guide to Solving Complex Problems, Avoiding Unintended Consequences, and Achieving Lasting Results. Chelsea Green. ISBN: 978-1603585804 | $19.00 |
| Google Gemini Pro AI Subscription | $20/mo. = $40 |
| Tuition | $800.00 |
| Total Cost of Course: | $891.00 |